USC Aiken grad has bright future 5/17/2009 12:33 AM
By ROB NOVIT Senior writer
When Audrey Hendley graduated from Wardlaw Academy near Johnston four years ago, the accomplished student could have had her pick of colleges.
Instead, she decided to stay close to home to attend USC Aiken, impressed by the biology department, a consistently high U.S. News & World Reports ranking and the small class sizes.
Hendley made the most of that experience, addressing her classmates at commencement earlier this month as the outstanding senior graduate. She gets remarkably good reviews from her professors.
"Audrey is, in my opinion, one of the finest students the university has produced," said Dr. Bill Jackson, chairman of the Department of Biology and Geology. "I have found Audrey to be reliable, intelligent and highly motivated."
Hendley met Jackson, her adviser, during freshman orientation. When he asked about her goals, she didn't hesitate.
"I wanted to get my Ph.D. in graduate school," Hendley said. "Not many people would come in and say that, already knowing what they wanted to do."
After her first year at USCA, Jackson invited her to work in his lab that summer. She spent six semesters in the lab and summers, as well, focusing primarily on HIV research. And as she predicted, Hendley will pursue a Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University in the fall as part of the pre-doctoral training program in human genetics.
Hendley's parents, William and Carmen Hendley, grew up in the Johnston area and were childhood sweethearts. William Hendley joined the Air Force, and Audrey, born in Nebraska, grew up in Mississippi, Italy, Germany and Sumter before her parents moved back to the North Augusta area. Her dad, now retired, is an Army contractor, and her mom is employed a civilian accountant at Fort Gordon.
"I really liked moving around a lot, getting to see different places and other cultures" Hendley said. "Italy and Germany were wonderful. I would go see the ruins of Pompeii and the castles in Germany."
She played travel softball, too, and at ages 11 and 12, she was the shortstop on European championship teams that played in Little League World Series in Oregon and Washington State. However, Hendley's big thing from the seventh grade on proved to be science - although not plants or bugs.
"Dr. Jackson introduced me to HIV research in his lab, certainly an issue worthy of attention," she said. "There's a lot that's still not known that could improve the quality of people's lives with illnesses like cancer or life-threatening conditions like AIDS."
In her sophomore year, she gave a poster presentation related to her research at a meeting of the S.C. Academy of Science and gave an oral presentation to the same organization the following year. Hendley won a prestigious Magellan Scholarship from the University of South Carolina to fund her ongoing research. She presented her research at three events last semester.
Dr. Chad Leverette, assistant professor of chemistry, also invited Hendley to work his lab in summer 2008. He wrote that she is simply the best student he has ever taught.
"What I enjoy about Audrey is her ability to grasp difficult concepts quickly and thoroughly," he said. "She is an excellent ambassador for USCA and epitomizes what we expect in our students. I have no doubt that she will be a successful scientist one day and a wonderful example of the product of our university."
Hendley graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 average. She's especially proud that the biology major - among the hardest at USCA - produced the university's only other 4.0 averages from her friends Lisa James, Lindsay Padgett and Christine Gross.
Her undergraduate work has taught her patience, Hendley said. She is prepared for setbacks in her work and won't be deterred.
"I'm a Christian, and my desire to help others comes from my religious beliefs and the Bible," Hendley said. "One of my most important goals is to enrich their lives."
Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.
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